2007/10/16 by Emmanuel Chemla, E. Chemla · 2 citations
Arts and Humanities · Computer Science · #Epistemology, Ethics, and Metaphysics #Logic, Reasoning, and Knowledge #Multi-Agent Systems and Negotiation
paper · doi:10.1093/jos/ffm017
openalex publication_date 2007/10/16 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/25
Sentence (1) strongly suggests that the speaker does not have a sister: According to Heim (1991), Percus (2006), and Sauerland (2006), this inference should follow from the comparison of (1) to (1a). However, such an analysis would only predict a very weak implicature: it is not common belief that the speaker has a sister. I propose to strengthen this prediction by two means. First, I rely on a precise understanding of the modern Stalnakerian view of presuppositions and common ground (Stalnaker 1998, 2002; von Fintel 2000; Schlenker 2006). Second, I argue that this inference depends on contextual factors. More precisely, I show that the Competence Assumption (see Spector 2003; van Rooij & Schulz 2004; Sauerland 2004) necessary to obtain secondary scalar implicatures should be supplemented with an Authority Assumption. I motivate this additional assumption on independent empirical grounds. Finally, I show how my proposal accounts for a wide variety of inferences with fine variations governed by (i) contextual differences and (ii) specific properties of the presupposition triggers involved.